Electrical connectors



Aug. 19, 1969 F. B. STARK EITAL ELECTRICAL commcwons Filed July 20. 1967 United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing having a passageway therethrough, an electrical terminal disposed therein, the electrical terminal including a body portion and a connecting section; the connecting section connected to a conductor member, means on the body portion and in the passageway to prevent the terminal from moving out of the passageway in one direction, and projection means extending outwardly from the body portion and along the body portion in the same direction as an insertion axis of the electrical terminal, the projection means engaging the means in the passageway thereby preventing the terminal from moving out of the passageway in a direction opposite to the one direction and to stabilize the terminal in the passageway.

This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to pin and socket terminals thereof.

Pin and socket terminals are well known in the electrical field and have been used to provide electrical connections for numerous electrical equipment, appliances, computers, systems, etc. These terminals are generally mounted in mating housing members which provide proper alignment between the corresponding pins and sockets, protection therefor and insulation thereof.

It has been found that when the housing members containing the pins and sockets are mated, the pins do not readily engage the respective sockets due to misalignment caused by manufacturing tolerances in the electrical terminals as well as the housing members, changes of temperature, other environmental conditions and manufacturing design of the connector elements.

It has further been found that the terminals disclosed in US. Patent 3,311,866 have been inserted into the passageways of the parts of the housing members with difliculty because the stop means and stabilizing means of the terminals impede the insertion of the connectors in a properly seated position in the passageways as well as damaging the passageways. The reason this occurs is that the stop means and the stabilizing means comprises arcuate projections that are stamped out of the bodies of the terminals and most of these projections extend outwardly from the bodies in a direction normal with respect to the insertion axes of the passageways so that the edges of these projections readily dig into the walls of the passageways during insertion of the terminals thereinto as well as damaging the passageways. The digging into the passageways detracts from the stabilizing feature because the passageways are made uneven as a result of the damage caused by the digging. Moreover, these projections are separate from each other thereby compounding the problems.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide electrical terminals of the pin and socket variety each of which have the same outside diameter along its body portion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide stabilizing means on each terminal to stabilize them within the passageways of their respective housing members.

3,462,726 Patented Aug. 19, 1969 ice An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a pin and socket terminal assemply which is easy to manufacture and is devoid of complexity.

A further object of the invention is to provide combined stop and stabilizing means on the terminals which does not damage the walls of the passageways.

The terminal of the present invention has a mating end and an end to which a conductor extends, and includes means which abut the interior of a dielectric housing passageway to retain and stabilize the terminal therein. The terminal has forward means engageable with passageway abutment means to prevent terminal removal in one direction; and has second means which engages rear abutment means in the passageway to prevent removal in the other direction and cooperates with a section of the passageway to stabilize the terminal therein. The second means comprises equidistantly spaced tapered, axially extending, projections projecting outwardly around the terminal. These projections engage the rear abutment means, with the outermost parts of the projections engaging the passageway walls for stabilization.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration and principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective exploded view of the terminals;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along lines 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a partially sectioned view showing the pin and socket terminals in mated relationship in passageways of their respective housing members which are also in mated relationship.

FIGURE 5 is a partial section corresponding to FIG- URE 2 but showing a modified shape of projection.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown a pin terminal P and a socket terminal S. Each terminal is provided with a ferrule portion F in which the conductor portion of a conductor means CM is secured by cold-forging or crimping techniques disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,600,012. Ferrule portion F also may include a section to engage the insulation of the conductor means. Of course, the conductor means may be secured to the connector elements in any other well known manner.

The terminals are preferably formed by shaping a sheet metal blank or strip of suitable, electrically-conductive material, such as brass, bronze or other alloy, the metal being sufiiciently hard and resilient in order to provide excellent spring quality thereto as well as being malleable to permit the cold-forging or crimping techniques mentioned above.

Each terminal includes a body portion B which has the same outside diameter therealon-g and includes a spring latch means 1 such as disclosed in US. Patent 3,292,137. Spring latch means 1 includes projections 1a to prevent the spring latch means from being bent back within the body portions. While the outside diameter of pin terminal P is the same along its body portion, it is slightly larger than the inside diameter of socket terminal S so that a proper frictional fit therebetween is effected to provide excellent mechanical and electrical connection in addition to minimum of insertion and extraction forces.

Entrance 2 of body portion B of socket terminal S is slightly inclined n the inner surface to facilitate entry Within a passageway 3 of one part of housing H such as disclosed .in U.S. Patent No. 3,179,738 and entry of pin terminal P thereinto, respectively.

At the top of body portion B of socket terminal S, the ends of the body portion at 4 are almost in engagement and these ends taper slightly away from each other in a direction toward ferrule portion F. This provides a C- shaped type spring action concentrated at this location.

Extending forward of location 4, the ends of body portion B are spaced with respect to each other in a substantially parallel manner to define a gap 5 which extends the rest of the length of the body portion. The front section of the body portion, at which the spring latch means begins, also defines a C-shaped type spring action. Gap 5 in the body portion facilitates the insertion of the pin terminal within the socket element due to the fact that less surface area of the socket terminal engages the pin terminal. Gap 5 also lends excellent resiliency to the body portion since the ends are far enough apart to allow sufficient play therebetween. The inner end of gap 5 terminates slightly forward of the free end of the spring latch means and over half the length of the body portion.

As can be discerned, the spring latch means does not provide continuity between the two C-shaped type spring areas; therefore, at location 4 there is provided a forked type spring which abets the forward C-shaped type spring.

The body portions of the terminals include projections 6 which are spaced rearwardly from spring latch means 1 and which are equidistantly spaced around body portions B.

Projections 6 project outwardl from and along body portions B in the same direction as the insertion or longitudinal axes of the terminals and they are tapered with the highest point of the taper occurring at the ends closest to the ferrule portions. Projections 6 project outwardly from body portions B at their highest points a distance which is slightly less than the diameter of sections 7 and 9 of passageways 3 and 8 to permit the terminals to be readily inserted therewithin.

When the socket terminal is disposed within passageway 3 of housing H, spring latch means 1 engages the edge or is disposed under annular lip 8 and the leading ends of projections 6 engage annular shoulder 10 of section 7 of passageway 3. The use of annular lip 8 is disclosed in US. Patent 3,319,912. Spring latch means 1 and projections 6 serve to lock the socket element within passageway 3 of the housing.

With the respect to pin terminal P, the leading ends of projections 6 engage an annular shoulder 11 of section 9 in another part of housing H to limit the inner movement of the pin terminal within passageway 8 while spring latch means 1 engage surface 12 and prevents the pin terminal from being removed from the housing without depressing the spring latch means.

Depending upon tolerances, the leading edges of the projections may extend a little distance into the areas forward of shoulders 10 and 11.

Projections 6 also define stabilizing means to stabilize the pin and socket terminals in their respective passageways. In the case of the socket terminal, the trailing ends of projections 6 in conjunction with section 7 of passageway 3 and the engagement of annular lip 8 with the body portion B permit limited freedom of movement of the socket terminal in passageway 3 so that it will properly align itself for engagement with pin terminal P. With respect to the pin terminal, the trailing ends of projections 6 in conjunction with section 9 of passageway 8 and the snug engagement of section 13 of passageway 8 with the body portion of the pin terminal stabilizes the pin terminal in position in the passageway.

As can be discerned, projections 6 define a combination of stop means and stabilizing means with each projection performing the dual function of stopping and stabilizing. Since projections 6 extend along the body portions of the terminals in the same direction as the insertion axes thereof, this permits ease of insertion of the terminals in the passageways of the housing with a minimum of effort as well as the preclusion of any damage thereto.

Projections 6a, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, may be formed so as to have an arcuate configuration in cross section to obviate sharp edges that could dig into the walls of the passageways during rotation of the terminals therewithin.

It should also be pointed out that since the outside diameter of each body portion of the pin and socket terminals are the same therealong, this provides better coaxial relationship with the passageways of the parts of the housing in which the terminals are disposed and decreases the complexity of the parts during manufacture thereof since no parts on the body portions with different diameters are needed.

As can be discerned, there has been disclosed novel pin and socket terminals which are easy to manufacture, easy to insert within passageways of housings and are readily engaged to provide an excellent mechanical and electrical connection.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforemention and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown and described herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

The invention is claimed in accordance with the followmg:

1. An electrical terminal shaped for disposition in secured position in a passageway of a dielectric housing in which it is intended to be inserted comprising a body section and a conductor-engaging section, said conductorengaging section being connectable to conductor means, said body section having first means engageable with forward abuttment means in said passageway to limit movement of said terminal in said passageway in another direction opposite to said one direction, said second means dcfining projection means extending outwardly from said body portion and extending in the same direction as a longitudinal axis of said terminal, said projection means being disposed substantially equidistantly around said body portion and including first sections defining stop means shaped for engagement with said rear abuttment means and second sections projecting outwardly further than said first sections and defining stabilizing means shaped for engagement with said passageway adjacent said rear abuttment means for stabilizing said terminal in said passageway.

2. An electrical terminal according to claim 1 wherein said projection means are tapered.

3. An electrical terminal according to claim 1 wherein said projection means are tapered with the highest point of the taper occurring adjacent said conductor-engaging sectlon.

4. An electrical terminal according to claim 1 wherein said projection means have an arcuate configuration in cross section.

5. An electrical connector comprising an electrical terminal and a dielectric housing; said terminal having a conductor-engaging section for connection to a conductive means and a body section provided with a forward stop means and rear stop means, said dielectric housing provided with a passageway in which said terminal is disposed, said passageway including a forward abuttment cooperating with said forward stop means thereby limiting movement of said terminal in one direction and a rear abuttment cooperating with said rear stop means thereby limiting movement of said terminal in another direction; said rear stop means defining projections disposed substantially equidistantly around said body section and extending in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal axis of said terminal, said projections having first sections disposed for abuttment with said read abuttment and second sections cooperating with a section of said passageway adjacent said rear abuttment for stabilizing said terminal and second sections projecting outwardly further than said first sections.

6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein said projections are tapered.

7. An electrical connector comprising an electrical terminal and a dielectric housing; said terminal having a conductor-engaging section for connection to a conductive means and a body section provided with forward stop means and rear stop means; said dielectric housing provided with a passageway in which said terminal is disposed, said passageway including a forward abuttment cooperating with said forward stop means thereby limiting movement of said terminal in one direction and a rear abuttment cooperating with said rear stop means thereby limiting movement of said terminal in another direction; said rear stop means including stabilizing means for co operating with a section of said passageway adjacent said rear abuttment for stabilizing said terminal in said passageway said rear stop means defining tapered projections disposed substantially equidistantly around said body section and extending in substantially the same direction as a longitudinal axis of said terminal, said projections having first sections defining said stop means and second sections defining said stabilizing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,463,826 3/1949 Thacker 339-217 X 2,863,131 12/1958 Carlzen et a1 339-193 2,904,772 9/1959 Artz 339-17 X 3,169,805 2/1965 Dieterich 287-126 X 3,311,866 3/1967 Williamson 339-217 3,319,212 5/1967 Smith et a1. 339-217 X RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,462, 726 August 19 1! Frank Benjamin Stark et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 40, "another" should read one line before "opposite" insert and second means engageable with 1 abutment means in said passageway to limit movement of said terminal in said passageway in another direction Signed and sealed this 11th day of August 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER,

Commissioner of Fate:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

